News

BIG TURNOUT FOR MOORLAND OPEN DAY

19th September 2006

Almost 100 people from the Wharfedale and Airedale area came to Bingley Moor on a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon (17th September). The event was organised by the Countryside Alliance and the Moorland Association and hosted by the Bingley Moor Partnership to show how the moor is managed for grouse shooting, sheep grazing and public access.

Said Tim Baynes, Moorland Policy Officer for the Countryside Alliance: “This is the fourth in a series of moorland open days that we have held across the north of England, and the most successful. Our thanks to everyone who came and made it such an enjoyable afternoon. Many grouse moor owners realise that even people who live nearby and regularly walk on moors like Bingley do not fully understand the range of conservation work that quietly goes on there, and are keen to put that right by holding an open day.”

During a three hour walk across the moor, Head keeper, Donald McGill showed how heather is managed by controlled burning in the winter, both to produce young heather for grouse and sheep to eat and also to limit the amount of old woody heather which becomes such a hazard when wildfires are started in hot dry weather. He also gave a demonstration of the Estate’s fire fighting equipment which they used to help put out the devastating fire in July on neighbouring Ilkley Moor.

A demonstration of traps and cages used to control predators attracted much interest, with guests asking how they could use such techniques to control the magpies in their own gardens! Donald McGill explained how foxes and crows not only eat grouse and their eggs, but also other rare ground nesting birds, such as Golden plover, Curlew, Dunlin and Lapwing.

The range of birdlife found on managed moors was emphasised by ornithologist Peter Rowe, who works with the moorland managers to monitor nests of rare birds of prey such as Merlin and Short eared owls and ringing their chicks. Dog experts Val and Les Isherwood used their English Setters to demonstrate how dogs are used to assess grouse populations, while co-owner and Moorland Asociation member, Edward Bromet explained how the grouse shooting days provide local employment and pay for conservation work on the moor

Dry stone walling expert, Ian Pearson showed the traditional techniques he is using to rebuild grouse butts and to restore miles of collapsed stone walls on the moor. There followed a discussion about rights of open access and the problems of dogs running out of control in the bird nesting season. Finally, there was a talk by Danny Jackson of Bradford Council about restoration of the fire damage on neighbouring Ilkley Moor and lessons to be learnt about moorland firefighting.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth commented “Parts of Ilkley Moor will take many years to recover from the fire in July and we must now put in place a management regime which will minimise the chances of it ever happening again. What we have seen this afternoon shows that moorland managed for grouse shooting not only produces an income to pay for management, but the system of rotational heather burning can play an important part in preventing devastating wildfires”

The day finished with a “moorland tea” including a tasting of wild grouse. One of the visitors, Dr Jean Holdgate of Eldwick said “It was a fantastic day, so informative and interesting to see what a delicate balance moorland management is. I hadn’t realised how many skills were involved. I know Bingley Moor really well and use it a lot but didn’t know what was involved in its upkeep” Haley Bevan, also of Eldwick said ”It was so easy to ask questions and everyone involved was so interesting – it was especially nice to be able to talk to a gamekeeper”



For further press information and images of the event, please contact Tim Baynes of the Countryside Alliance on 01833 695749 or email tim-baynes@countryside-alliance.org.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Countryside Alliance www.countryside-alliance.org works for everyone who loves the countryside and the rural way of life. Through campaigning, lobbying, publicity and education the Alliance influences legislation and public policy that impacts on the countryside, rural people and their activities

The Moorland Association www.moorlandassociation.org.uk is a membership organisation comprising moorland owners and managers, and represents 750,000 acres of the remaining 800,000 acres of heather moorland in England. Its aim is to halt the loss of heather moorland and to secure its future.

The Moorland Visitor’s Code is essential reading for anyone planning a moorland walk and is available free from 0870 120 6466:

The Moorland Visitor’s Code.
• Check www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk to see what is open for you (and your dog) and follow any local signs – especially Fire Warning and Closure notices in hot weather.
• Dogs must be on a short lead (less than 2 metres) during the breeding season – 1st March – 31st July.
• Never light fires on moorland, not even gas stoves or barbecues, and don’t stub cigarettes out on the ground or throw them from car windows.
• Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Consider other people – moorland keepers and farmers play a crucial role in the well being of the moors